Abby’s damaged boat Wild Eyes will most likely be abandoned or scuttled.

Sunderland, who was trying to sail solo around-the-world, activated two distress signals on Thursday night in mountainous seas.

The American teenager was found by a Qantas Airbus yesterday, about 2,000 nautical miles off the coast of Western Australia, and an international rescue operation was launched involving Australian and French authorities.

It remains unclear where she will now be taken but the Australian Maritime Safety Authority says the decision lies with the master of the 1295 ton Ile De La Reunion.

The vessel is registered to Port Aux Francais in the French-owned Kerguelen Islands but is known to operate from Reunion Island.